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Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands Introduce Border Controls Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands Introduce Border Controls
(about 1 hour later)
BERLIN — Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands introduced border controls on Monday, as Germany’s decision over the weekend to set up checks began to ripple across a bloc struggling to deal with the influx of migrants coming to the Continent.BERLIN — Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands introduced border controls on Monday, as Germany’s decision over the weekend to set up checks began to ripple across a bloc struggling to deal with the influx of migrants coming to the Continent.
In Hungary, the authorities said that a near-record 5,353 migrants had crossed into the country from Serbia before noon on Monday — even as Budapest continued to try to seal off that border, which is being reinforced with the construction of a 109-mile fence made with razor wire. In Hungary, the authorities said that a near-record 5,353 migrants had crossed into the country from Serbia before noon on Monday — even as Budapest continued to seal off that border with the construction of a 109-mile fence made with razor wire.
Citing Hungary’s decision to make unauthorized entry into the country a criminal offense starting on Tuesday, Serbia said it would set up reception centers in the north of the country and pleaded for the European Union, of which it is not a member, to take action. About 3,500 migrants were expected to pass through Serbia on Monday, most of them hoping to continue to Germany or Austria. Around 50 police officers, wearing riot gear and equipped with pepper spray, converged Monday afternoon on the train tracks linking the villages of Roszke, Hungary and Horgos, Serbia, which thousands of migrants had used to cross in recent days. An official in a bright yellow jacket turned away migrants seeking to enter Hungary.
The Dutch authorities said that they would conduct spot checks at their country’s border with Germany. Slovakia announced temporary controls, and the addition of 220 officers, along its borders with Hungary and Austria. Starting Tuesday, Hungary will classify unauthorized entry into the country as a criminal offense, punishable by up to three years in prison. In response, Serbia said it would set up reception centers in the north of the country and pleaded for the European Union, of which it is not a member, to take action.
While Berlin said the controls along the German-Austrian border were only a temporary, emergency measure, the restrictions, a response to the strain on local communities, signaled that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcoming stance toward the migrants was encountering domestic resistance. Meanwhile, Dutch authorities said that they would conduct spot checks at their country’s border with Germany. And Slovakia announced temporary controls, and the addition of 220 officers, along its borders with Hungary and Austria.
Deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told members of his center-left Social Democratic Party, which governs with Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, that Germany could face the arrival of even more migrants this year than the government had projected. “There are many indications that in this year we will not see 800,000 refugees, as predicted, but a million,” he said in a letter to his party. While Berlin said its new controls, along the German-Austrian border, were only a temporary, emergency measure, the restrictions, a response to the strain on local communities, signaled that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcoming stance toward the migrants was encountering domestic resistance.
Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told members of his center-left Social Democratic Party, which governs with Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, that Germany could face the arrival of even more migrants this year than the government had projected. “There are many indications that in this year we will not see 800,000 refugees, as predicted, but a million,” he said in a letter to his party.
“Germany is strong and can handle a lot,” Mr. Gabriel wrote. “Nevertheless, in the past few days we have experienced how, despite our best efforts, our abilities have reached their limits.”“Germany is strong and can handle a lot,” Mr. Gabriel wrote. “Nevertheless, in the past few days we have experienced how, despite our best efforts, our abilities have reached their limits.”
Horst Seehofer, the premier of Bavaria, a deeply conservative state in the south, has criticized Ms. Merkel for her open-door policy. More than 25,000 migrants arrived in Bavaria over the weekend.Horst Seehofer, the premier of Bavaria, a deeply conservative state in the south, has criticized Ms. Merkel for her open-door policy. More than 25,000 migrants arrived in Bavaria over the weekend.
“There is no order, there is no system, and in a country governed by the rule of law, that is a cause for concern,” Mr. Seehofer told reporters on Sunday. He said that officials were straining to process and house thousands of newcomers, and that some of them were economic migrants, not people fleeing persecution.“There is no order, there is no system, and in a country governed by the rule of law, that is a cause for concern,” Mr. Seehofer told reporters on Sunday. He said that officials were straining to process and house thousands of newcomers, and that some of them were economic migrants, not people fleeing persecution.
“We need better controls in general, because we have determined that in recent days, many of those on the move are really not refugees,” Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, told a local television station. Officials in Eastern and Central Europe, including Hungary, have made similar arguments.“We need better controls in general, because we have determined that in recent days, many of those on the move are really not refugees,” Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, told a local television station. Officials in Eastern and Central Europe, including Hungary, have made similar arguments.
It was not immediately clear how long the German measures would remain in effect, but Mr. Herrmann estimated that they would last “at least a week.”It was not immediately clear how long the German measures would remain in effect, but Mr. Herrmann estimated that they would last “at least a week.”
The restrictions to the European Union’s border-free Schengen zone by Germany, one of the most ardent proponents of greater integration, signified a departure for Ms. Merkel, who had said just last week that there was “no upper limit” on the number of refugees her country could take in. The extraordinary restrictions to the European Union’s border-free Schengen zone by Germany — one of the most ardent proponents of greater integration — signified a departure for Ms. Merkel, who had said just last week that there was “no upper limit” on the number of refugees her country could take in.
The Schengen Agreement, which guarantees passport-free movement within much of continental Europe, has served as a cornerstone of European unity, along with the euro and a single market. Countries in the Schengen Zone are allowed, however, to temporarily reinstate controls at their borders for security reasons. The Schengen Agreement, which guarantees passport-free movement within much of continental Europe, has been a cornerstone of European unity, along with the euro and a single market. Countries in the Schengen zone are allowed, however, to temporarily reinstate controls at their borders for security reasons.
Such controls have been set up seven times since 2013, when the rules were clarified for participating countries — but the first time such controls have been reinstated because of migratory pressures. Such controls have been set up seven times since 2013, when the rules were clarified for participating countries — but the first time such controls have been reinstated because of pressures from migration.
Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Ms. Merkel, said the new measures were “not a closing of the border, or a suspension of the right to asylum,” but were an attempt to instill greater order on the chaos of the arrival and application process. Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Ms. Merkel, said the new measures were “not a closing of the border, or a suspension of the right to asylum,” but rather an attempt to instill greater order on the chaos of the arrival and application process.
“It also serves as a clear signal to our European partners that Germany, while prepared to take on a large share of responsibilities, cannot be solely responsible for taking in all refugees,” he said.“It also serves as a clear signal to our European partners that Germany, while prepared to take on a large share of responsibilities, cannot be solely responsible for taking in all refugees,” he said.
Nonetheless, Germany’s decision appeared to edge its neighbor, Austria, toward taking its own measures. Nonetheless, Germany’s decision appeared to have edged neighboring Austria to enact its own restrictions.
“If Germany carries out border controls, Austria must put strengthened border controls in place,” said Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria, who is scheduled to meet with Ms. Merkel on Tuesday. “If Germany carries out border controls, Austria must put strengthened border controls in place,” said Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria, who is scheduled to meet with Ms. Merkel on Tuesday. (He added, however, that no asylum seekers had been turned back to Austria from the German border.)
Mr. Faymann said that no asylum seekers had been turned back to Austria from the German border. Austrian officials said on Monday that they were sending 2,200 soldiers to help reinforce its eastern border. Last week, Hungary sent 4,300 troops to its border with Serbia.
Vienna said on Monday that it was sending 2,200 soldiers to help reinforce its eastern border. Last week, Hungary sent 4,300 troops to its border with Serbia, where they have been conducting drills and assisting in the construction of the fence. Since the German controls took effect at 5 p.m. Sunday, thousands of refugees have been stuck in Austria. About 1,400 slept in a converted parking garage in Salzburg on Sunday night; 1,000 of them boarded a train to Munich early Monday, though it was not clear whether they made it across the border.
Since the German controls took effect at 5 p.m. Sunday, thousands of refugees have gotten stuck in Austria. About 1,400 people slept in a converted parking garage in Salzburg on Sunday night; 1,000 of them boarded a train to Munich early Monday, though it was not clear whether they made it across the border.
The scene in Vienna was calm. But at a train station there, Samin Mohebi, a migrant from Isfahan, Iran, said she had been detained for three days in Hungary before making her way — partly on foot — to Vienna. “Friends and family are already in Germany,” she said. “I’ve been moving for two weeks. I’ll wait one month here, but I must go there.”The scene in Vienna was calm. But at a train station there, Samin Mohebi, a migrant from Isfahan, Iran, said she had been detained for three days in Hungary before making her way — partly on foot — to Vienna. “Friends and family are already in Germany,” she said. “I’ve been moving for two weeks. I’ll wait one month here, but I must go there.”
In Germany, the police on Monday checked trucks and cars entering the country from Austria, although train service between the two countries was restored. Although train service between the two countries was restored early Monday, the German police were rigorously stopping and checking trucks and cars entering from Austria, leading to heavy congestion on major highways. Officers eased up as the day wore on, however, and carried out only spot checks.
Highways leading to Germany from Austria were heavily clogged into Monday morning, as the police rigorously carried out checks. Officers eased up as the day wore on, however, and carried out only spot checks on vehicles entering Germany. Thomas Schweikl, a spokesman for the federal police in the Bavarian town of Freyung, said that 31 people had been arrested on suspicion of smuggling people since the controls began late Sunday.
Thomas Schweikl, a spokesman for the federal police in the Bavarian town of Freyung, said that 31 people had been arrested on suspicion of smuggling people since controls began late Sunday.
Several hundred officers, wearing reflective vests and flagging down trucks and cars as they entered Germany, were carrying out the checks near the border. Officers from across the country arrived overnight to help the Bavarian police, Mr. Schweikl said.Several hundred officers, wearing reflective vests and flagging down trucks and cars as they entered Germany, were carrying out the checks near the border. Officers from across the country arrived overnight to help the Bavarian police, Mr. Schweikl said.
“There is no way we could manage it on our own,” he said.“There is no way we could manage it on our own,” he said.